Introspection: One's inner drive

सोनचिड़िया की उड़ने की क्या मकसद?
केदारनाथ की यात्रा या काशी में जन्नत?

तुझसे है राब्ता, ये क्या जाने छिछोरे ?

मेरा दिल बेचारा हो गया, 

शुद्ध देसी रोमांस के बारे में सोचते सोचते!

(Sonchiriya ki udne ki kya maksad?
Kedarnath ki yatra ya Kashi mein jannat?

Tujhse hai raabta, yeh kya jaane Chhichhore?
Mera dil bechara ho gaya,
Shuddh desi romance ke baarey mein sochte sochte!)

An outsider's struggle

We realize the importance of something on losing it,
So why should it be the same for a gem of a person, when he was fit?
Being physically fit doesn't always mean being fine,
'I'm fine' is the world's biggest lie!
It was all in the mind,
Neither yours nor mine.

Why did he die?
Unlike cats, he didn't have lives which were nine.
It was a wake-up call for all but his contemporaries who didn't give him his share of pie,
No recognition in this big bad world and insiders who didn't care, this is what we hear through the grapevine.

Justice delayed is justice denied, for such an innocent guy,
Unlike materials, emotions we cannot buy.
Action is necessary, as the culprits shed crocodile tears,
The biggest challenge is to face our fears.

What can we say in these tough times,
A tiny organism can claim many lives!
But not in his case;
A big devil is depression, which doesn't show its face.

मुलाक़ात का इंतज़ार

प्यार और दोस्ती दोनों हैं अमूल्य,
लेकिन यह हमेशा के लिए नहीं, यही तो है अवश्य;

बिना आंसूं के आगे बढ़ना हुआ मुश्किल,
वक्त और दूरी दोनों का असर है, यह जानता है मेरा दिल !
इससे पता चलेगा कौन हैं अपने करीब,
सोचते है मुलाक़ात होगी तो अपने नसीब;

इंतज़ार करने का क्या फायदा,
वह पता चले जब हम मिले, क्या है उसका वादा?

अभी वह दिन आया;
आज के लिए इस दुनिया की मोह-माया से छुटकारा !

Metropolises, sun, sand and sea!

This is about a family trip to Andaman Islands (Port Blair, Havelock, Ross,Viper and North Bay) via Bombay and Calcutta.

November 3, 2013: Reached Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad at around 05:30 am, to board an Air India flight to Bombay. Boarded the aircraft at 07:10 am. It took off at 07:30 am, delayed by a few minutes. At 08:45 am, the aircraft landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Bombay. As we had more than 9 hours left to board the connecting flight to Calcutta, we decided to meet relatives in the city. We hired a black-and-yellow taxi to Churchgate. We were lucky to get a Premier Padmini (Fiat), famous for having ruled Bombay’s roads as an iconic taxi since the 1960s. This was being phased out in favour of newer, more fuel-efficient vehicles like Hyundai Santro and Maruti Alto.

Decided to take the Bandra-Worli Sealink. We had to pay Rs 55 at the toll-gate.

Bombay seemed to be like New York, with skyscrapers dotting the Worli skyline just like Manhattan. Could see Haji Ali’s Tomb. Crossed Pedder Road, Jaslok Hospital and Wilson College. The city was apparently much cleaner than Ahmedabad.  Turned left at Hotel Marine Plaza on Marine Drive and stopped near Mantralaya. Our relatives welcomed us. After refreshing ourselves, we spent time with them. We had lunch and slept for a while before bidding adieu. 

At 3 pm, we decided to leave. We hired a Hyundai Santro taxi and told the driver to go to the airport via the Gateway of India. We saw Oval Maidan, Rajabai clocktower just before reaching Apollo Bunder. We waited for a few minutes near the Gateway of India and Taj Mahal Hotel. Saw the Bombay Stock Exchange building (Phiroze Jeejeebhoy Towers) and Victoria Terminus (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus-a World Heritage Site), before hitting the Eastern Express Highway. After crossing Byculla, Dadar and Sion, we took a detour via Dharavi to reach Bandra-Kurla complex. Autorickshaws were seen after crossing Dharavi (they were not allowed in South Bombay). Took the Western Express Highway and reached Santacruz airport at 04:30 pm. Waited at Terminal 1A to board the evening Air India flight to Calcutta.

The aircraft took off at 06:40 pm. Dinner was served: Veg salad, bread roll, rice, curry, chocolate cake and tea. At 9 pm, the aircraft landed at Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International Airport, Calcutta. We identified our bags and hired a yellow Ambassador taxi to Salt Lake. Reached the guest house at 10:30 pm. As we were tired, we hit the sack after checking in.

November 4, 2013: Woke up at 7 am, had breakfast and went shopping around Bidhan Nagar, Salt Lake Sector-III. We decided to visit the Botanical Garden. Calcutta had many yellow Ambassador taxis, trams and colorful old buses. Crossed the second Howrah Bridge (Vidyasagar Setu) and reached the Botanical Garden. The main attraction was the 250 year old banyan tree, but it was difficult to spot.  Went to Rashbehari Avenue (Lake Market) and had a masala dosa at an Udupi restaurant. APJ Abdul Kalam had dined there in 2005! 

Visited Victoria Memorial in the afternoon, but didn’t go inside. Returned to Lake Market for shopping. Returned to the guest house at 5 pm. The sun had set by then (Quite early for people from Ahmedabad). Had dinner and slept.

November 5, 2013: Woke up at 7 am, had breakfast and called the driver who had taken us around the city the previous day. He said there was a problem with the car. So, another vehicle was arranged for us. Went to Victoria Memorial again. Went inside and felt the relics were more interesting and informative than any high school history lesson!

Went shopping at Lake Market again. Had lunch at Komala Vilas, a South Indian restaurant. Left for Belur Math at 02:50 pm and reached at around 4 pm. Got to know a lot about Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, the Mother and Swami Vivekananda. Temples were built in their memory, overlooking the Hoogly. Bought some books from the souvenir shop and proceeded to Dakshineswar on the other bank of the Hoogly. Calcutta got its name from the presiding deity of Dakshineswar. There were subordinate shrines with lingas of Lord Shiva. Dipped feet in the holy river and left for Salt Lake. Reached the guest house and had dinner. Went to bed by 10 pm (we had to reach the airport at an unearthly hour!)

November 6, 2013: Woke up at 02:45 am and checked out at 3 am. A taxi was waiting for us. Reached the airport at 4 am. Boarded the early morning Air India flight to Port Blair. It took off at 05:55 am. Breakfast was served: Veg cutlet, bread and butter, chole bhature, fruit salad and tea. At 07:50 am, we could see the Andaman islands. The emerald sea contrasted with the dark green rainforest of the archipelago, just like the Caribbean or Mauritius (exotic locales).

At 8 am, the aircraft landed at Veer Savarkar Airport, Port Blair. The weather was warm (29 degrees Celsius) and sunny. Some passengers were scolded by the airport authorities for clicking pictures.

We identified our bags and proceeded to the arrivals gate. Someone had come to pick us up. Checked into Hotel Anbu at around 10 am. Relaxed in the room till 10:45 am. The driver came at 11 am to take us on a city tour. 

At first, we visited Samudrika Marine Museum. It was really impressive, more than just another aquarium. Found Nemo (Clownfish feeding on sea anemone)! J There were other colorful species such as parrotfish.

We visited Chatham Saw Mill and the Anthropological Museum of Port Blair, but they were not as impressive as Samudrika. We had lunch at Annapurna, a vegetarian restaurant. At around 3 pm, we went to Corbyn’s Cove beach. There were rocks along with white sand on the shore, apart from coconut groves in the vicinity. We could see tiny crabs making intricate patterns. Spent half an hour there and proceeded to Cellular Jail.

The Andaman archipelago may seem like a cool holiday destination now, but not in the past (from the 1800s to the 1930s). Prisoners were treated cruelly, probably worse than slaves. ‘Kaala Pani’ is the term used for the sadistic treatment meted out to them. After sunset, there was a sound and light show which was interesting.

Went back to the hotel, after shopping at Aberdeen Bazaar. Had dinner at the hotel. It started raining after 9 pm. As we were tired, we hit the sack.

November 7, 2013: Woke up and went to the Port Blair jetty to board ‘Sea Princess’. Left at 08:30 am and reached Ross Island at 10 am. Ross Island was a British settlement planned for recreation. There were Japanese bunkers. They bore evidence that there had been an attempt by Japanese soldiers to invade the territory. Deer and roosters were seen. A church (Presbyterian) was seen overlooking the azure sea. Feral beach was beautiful, with coconut groves on the shore.

Lunch packets of pulav were offered before reaching Viper Island. Spent a few minutes there. There was a memorial for prisoners (they were there before the construction of Cellular Jail). Arumugam, the guide, explained the history behind the memorial with full gusto. There was a moment’s silence in memory of the martyrs.

Proceeded to North Bay Island. Went in a glass boat to see fishes and corals (the sea had a greenish tinge). Went snorkelling. Could reach the ocean floor and touch some corals. There were shops selling coconut water and coral/shell souvenirs. The shore was composed of corals and shells, not rocks or sand. No crabs were seen.

Left at 04:30 pm and reached Port Blair at 05:30 pm. The sun had set by then. Reached the hotel and had an early dinner

November 8, 2013:  Woke up at 04:15 am. Went to Port Blair jetty and boarded ‘Hut Bay’. Left at 06:30 am.  Reached Havelock Island at 9 am. Went to Dolphin Resort in a Tata Sumo. Checked in and had breakfast. 

There was a beach (Vijaynagar beach-No.5) in the vicinity, unmatched in terms of beauty. The sea was an exquisite shade of cyan. The shore had white sand, shells and corals, apart from coconut groves. It was a sunny day and nothing could spoil one’s mood. One could spend hours relaxing in the picturesque, pristine surroundings.

Had lunch at 1 pm. Left at 03:30 pm for Radhanagar beach (Beach No.7).

Reached Radhanagar beach at 4 pm, after crossing a tropical rainforest. Dark clouds were seen in the southern horizon. It started raining after a while. Though the beach was rated by Time magazine as the best Asian beach, it didn’t seem as interesting as Vijaynagar beach. It was sandy, with green hillocks at either end. Sunset was observed at 04:45 pm and there was darkness by 05:30 pm. Went window-shopping at stalls near the beach and returned to Dolphin Resort at 6 pm. Went for a stroll on the beach, after having dinner at 8 pm. Rocks could be seen at low tide.

November 9, 2013: Woke up at 04:45 am. Went to the beach and saw rocks at low tide. Came back to the room as it started raining after sunrise. Had breakfast and checked out at 08:30 am. Reached Havelock jetty and boarded a speedboat at 9 am. Reached Elephant beach after 30 minutes. It was beautiful but not as picturesque or pristine as Vijaynagar beach. Trees were on the shore. Went in a glass boat. Could see fish species like angel fish, zebra fish and parrot fish, apart from corals. Went snorkelling as well. The view of corals and fishes was far better than the same at North Bay Island, though we weren’t supposed dive and touch corals on the ocean floor.

Took another speedboat back to Havelock jetty. Reached at 1 pm and had lunch at a restaurant near the jetty. Boarded ‘North Passage’ to Port Blair. Left at 04:40 pm. Caught a glimpse of the setting sun. Reached Port Blair jetty at 06:45 pm. Reached the hotel and had an early dinner, as we had to board a morning flight to Calcutta.

November 10, 2013: Woke up and reached the airport to board the Air India flight to Calcutta. The aircraft took off at around 08:30 am. Landed at Calcutta Airport at around 11 am. Took a taxi to Salt Lake and checked into the guest house where we had stayed earlier. 

After refreshing ourselves, we had lunch and decided to take the famous Metro Rail to Kalighat. Boarded a train at Jatin Das Park. It was as crowded as a Borivali-Churchgate fast local train at rush hour. The coaches were not airconditioned. Namma Metro (of Bangalore) seemed better in comparison. After visiting Kalighat temple, we returned to the guest house at Salt Lake.

November 11, 2013: Reached the airport and boarded the 6 am Air India flight to Bombay. The aircraft landed at Bombay Airport at around 9 am. Spent 8 hours in transit, before boarding the evening Air India flight to Ahmedabad.

The trip ended on a memorable note. Before leaving for Ahmedabad, we saw Kirron Kher in a lounge. She was being interviewed by a reporter. J

The aircraft took off at around 06:45 pm and landed at Ahmedabad Airport after an hour. 

Here are the pictures: Diwali 2013-Trip to Bombay Calcutta and Andaman Islands

The farmer's tale

Here's the Indian farmer, who's overlooked by someone employed in another sector;

Success on reaping a good harvest is sweet, just like nectar!

He's the breadwinner of his family, but doesn't realize he indirectly gives us our daily bread,

Without which many would not be well fed;

They would not be at peace while going to bed,

Some things are better left unsaid;

He has many mouths to feed,

And has to sow many a seed;

Hunger has to be appeased, by food which is a basic need;

Rain or sun, he has to toil,

And he remains a true son of the soil;

He has to feed all, irrespective of color or creed,

And is oblivious to the landholder's greed;

Deprived of support, cultivation can be affected by just a weed,

To which others pay no heed;

Dependence on middlemen is for sales,

But no one has time to listen to his woe-filled tales,

Of borrowed money as a loan;

Taking his own life seems to be the only option, leaving us with many a bone.

Breathe in a bit of...Fragrant and Vibrant Gujarat!

This blog post is about a recent family trip to Kutch, an arid district in western Gujarat.

December 28, 2012- Left Ahmedabad at 07:20 am in a white Tata Indigo. 

We went west of the SG Highway (NH8C) to reach Sanand and crossed the Tata Nano factory at Charodi. We bypassed Virangam and crossed the Narmada on the main road to Dhrangadhra. On reaching the Jalaram intersection, we took the road to Halvad.  After the Falku bridge near Halvad, we halted at an outlet of ‘Honest’ (an Ahmedabad-based chain of restaurants, famous for its bhajipao and pulav) for breakfast. We helped ourselves to fafda and gota (Gujarati farsan) and left at around 10am towards Kutch.

Cranes were seen near Aniyari (17kilometers from Maliya and 28 kilometers from Morbi). CNG autorickshaws, typical of Ahmedabad, were replaced by ordinary yellow and black ones. It was surprising to see non-vegetarian cafes, in a predominantly vegetarian state like Gujarat. Villagers were moving around in three-wheeled contraptions called 'Chakdas'. A 'chakda' is a cross between a Royal Enfield motorbike and a tractor.Villagers were clad in colorful attire, contrasting with the dull brown surroundings.Salt pans and windmills were seen near Samakhiali (Surajbari Checkpost to be precise). It was a sparsely populated region, but lots of industries were seen. Some of them were the Oreva-Orpat electronics plant of Ajanta and the Yo electric bike factory of Electrotherm.

We reached Bhachau(a town badly affected by the 2001 Gujarat earthquake) after crossing an RTO check-post at 11:40 am. Roads deteriorated in quality after crossing a railway gate in Bhachau(from four-lane to two-lane). We crossed  the factory of Sanghi Cement and the farm of Suzlon Energy near Dhamadka . Hillocks appeared after Dhamadka.

We reached Bhuj at 1pm, after crossing Madhapur. We checked into a hotel downtown at 1:30pm and had a Gujarati thali at Green Rock restaurant. After resting for an hour, we left at 04:25 pm towards the White Rann (desert) at Dhordho village. We crossed Rudramata dam at 04:43pm and theTropic of Cancer at 04:58pm. The landscape changed dramatically. There were less shrubs and bushes, thanks to the scanty rainfall that rendered the land arid. We got permits to visit the Rann at Bhirandyara. Reached Dhordho, a little to the west, at 05:57pm. The White Rann was reached at 06pm. Sunset was followed by moonrise. We were lucky to visit on a full moon night. Though the captured image of the moon was not as spectacular as the images on Google, it was nice to see the parched sandy land illuminated by moonlight. We left the parched land at 07:15pm and reached Bhuj at 08:40pm. We had dinner at Sankalp (another Ahmedabad-based chain of restaurants, specializing in dosas) and spent the night at the hotel.

December 29, 2012: Woke up and had dabeli for breakfast. It is a famous Kutchi snack, also called double roti(it’s just like a burger or vadapao with pomegranate and peanut fillings instead of a potato cutlet/patty). We checked out of the hotel and went shopping for handicrafts/souvenirs in the market and decided to visit the Kutch Museum, the oldest in Gujarat.

The museum, earlier known as the Fergusson Museum, was established by Maharao Khengarji III on July 1,1877. It was full of exhibits showcasing the handicrafts of Kutch. It had galleries on Kutchi art,archaeology and anthropology too.Examples of tribals in Kutch are Koli, Vagadia Rabari, Kach Rabari, Ahir, Charan, Matwa and  Meghwal. Those belonging to the region are skilled in embroidery work, patch work, brocade work and silver engraving. As a matter of fact, a silver sword was presented to Kuldeep Sharma, an IPS officer of Gujarat cadre, for his admirable work during his tenure as the DSP of Kutch.

After visiting the museum, we headed to Mandvi, 60km south of Bhuj. We reached the coastal town at around 1pm and went inside the Vijay Vilas Palace. It was named after Yuvraj Shri Vijayaraji , the heir of Maharao Khengarji III . It was meant to be a summer resort. It now belongs to the royal family of Kutch, whose members reside inside. One must note that Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (a 1999 Hindi film starring Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Ajay Devgan) was shot inside the mansion of sandstone.  It was full of ornate arched gateways with a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea. We had lunch at a restaurant downtown and decided to visit the beach. Though not as crowded as the Juhu in Bombay or the Marina in Madras, it was buzzing with activity. Camels were seen and there were windmills too. 

We departed for Ahmedabad at around 4pm, crossing places like the Adani Power Plant, Mundra and Anjar. We halted at Dhrangadhra for tea and reached Ahmedabad at 10 pm. There was enough time to have dinner before hitting the sack.  It was the end of an unforgettable family trip, with fond memories still lingering in our hearts.

Allow me to end here by sharing some Gujarat tourism ads starring Amitabh Bachchan:

1.The Gujarat Tourism ad about Kutch in English:  

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojVT6GH0FHs

2.The same in Hindi:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSf3eosEzU4

3.Khushboo Gujarat Ki-Festival-Kutch-Hindi:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c5vonNMXTU

4.www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDac2mcduNY

5.Rann Utsav: www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1f3a3X6IA4

Here are the pictures: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.540427802636039.128547.100000064722389&type=3

A few words I’d like to quote,”Breathe in a bit of Gujarat”,

 “कच्छ नही देखा तो कुछ नहीं देखा! (If you haven't seen Kutch, you've seen nothing)”,

 “कुछ दिन तो गुजारये गुजरात में!(why don't you spend some days in Gujarat!)", 

Why don’t you come and behold the wonders of this vibrant state for yourself?J                                                              

Why this Kotagiri di?

Okay, the title may sound funny and mislead you, but nothing seems apt after visiting the Nilgiris again after 4 years (The Nilgiris Revisited sounds a tad too commonplace).  My college life has been full of industrial visits (IVs) to different places. All of them have been like picnics for socializing rather than going to visit industries. But it doesn't matter for a student who has to complete 26 credits(8 subjects). Some classes in the morning and others in the afternoon, apart from seminars, assignments, quizzes and reviews-Aargh!! Give me a break from this hectic routine! When my (I'll use 'our' from now)class representative, Samuel announced about the confirmation of the trip to Kotagiri, many students were thrilled. Barring the IV to Pasteur Institute, Coonoor in 2008 (we were freshers then), all others were one-day trips from Vellore. Moreover, the IVs to Pondicherry(2010) and Yercaud (2011) lacked the charm of the first IV to Coonoor. It's probably because we were younger and got to know each other pretty well during those 3-4 days of fun and frolic in October 2008. Ahh, nostalgic memories keep haunting us, but we sadly decided to move on and be less adventurous, settling for one day trips instead. There were other formalities like getting permission letters from professors (ask any VITian, it's a Herculean task!)

Anyway, it came as a pleasant surprise when Samuel announced about our trip to Kotagiri. It was at the right time-we MSItes were bogged down by the academic workload as I had mentioned earlier. Kotagiri, nestled in the Nilgiris at an elevation of 1793m, could offer respite from the sweltering heat of Vellore as well.
The 3-day IV is described as follows:

September 20, 2012: Two buses were booked for the IV, as train tickets weren't available. We were told to assemble at VIT's All Mart gate at 7 pm. Getting a seat was initially a problem, but it was sorted out. We departed at around 8:30 pm. We crossed the outskirts of Vellore, and the music player was turned on. The experience of frenetic dancing to several Bollywood numbers cannot be described in words. We stopped at a roadside shack somewhere near Krishnagiri for a late dinner at around 11 pm. We fell asleep shortly after midnight, with those melodious tunes reverberating in our ears.

September 21, 2012:  We woke up near Mettupalayam at around 6 am. We were at the foothills of the Nilgiris. After a break for refreshments, we began our ascent up the winding roads of the Nilgiris. After 3 hours, we reached Kotagiri and checked into to Bel Air Cottages. The cottages were well-furnished and comfortable. After the long, tiring bus journey from Vellore, we decided to rest for a few hours there. In the afternoon, we decided to visit a tea estate. It was nice to see how tea leaves were picked and processed. The transition from green to brown was interesting to note and other processes like sorting and packaging were clearly explained. Though the main purpose of the IV had been fulfilled, there was more to look forward to.  We had a very light lunch at Kodanadu View Point. We could see the entire stretch of hills around Kotagiri from there. Not very impressed, we clicked pics and decided to return to Bel Air. As it was dark by then, we kept ourselves occupied by playing Frisbee and Dumb Charades in the garden. At dinnertime, we enjoyed playing 'Passing the Parcel' around the campfire. Prior to hitting the sack, we had a session of 'Truth or Dare' . It was fun getting to know one's deepest desires with no offence, or the expression on one's face after having performed an arduous yet hilarious task.

September 22, 2012:  After a good night's slumber, we had breakfast at Bel Air and decided to visit Doddabetta, the highest peak in the Nilgiri range at 2637 m. We had to change from buses to jeeps in the vicinity of the peak (to handle the narrow, winding roads with steep gradients well). The coniferous trees and the mist made the location seem picturesque. Lots of pictures were clicked, while we munched on carrots and purchased souvenirs. We had lunch at a restaurant in Ooty. After a while, we went to Pykara Lake . The place was water-starved despite the clouds and rainfall, but verdant and picturesque. Those clad in green seemed to blend in with the surroundings. After the visit to the tea estate, we could see shades of green and brown in action again! It seemed like an exotic locale in Europe ! Lots of pictures were clicked, amidst logs, bogs and meadows. I feel Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, or Twilight could have been filmed at Pykara, rather than Europe or North America. No castle or mansion could be seen though! We went back to Ooty after sunset and had dinner at a Dominos Pizza outlet. We purchased home-made chocolates (Ooty is famous for them) and reached Kotagiri at around 9 pm. Dinner was served for those who didn't have anything in Ooty. As we were tired, we went to bed a little earlier than the previous night.

September 23, 2012: Most of us woke up after 8 am. After breakfast, we packed our bags and decided to bid adieu to Kotagiri. We left in the afternoon at around 1 pm, when it started raining cats and dogs . A picture of our group was clicked, amidst the downpour. We reached Mettupalayam at around 4 pm and had a light lunch. The eateries didn't appeal to us much-most of them were tea-stalls or roadside cafes (dhabas). After a while, we proceeded towards Vellore, halting at Bhavani Sagar Dam on the way. There was a park in the vicinity, where we played games like kabbadi and lock-and-key. We left Bhavani Sagar at around 6:30 pm. We decided to have dinner at an Adyar Ananda Bhavan outlet near Dharmapuri. We departed at around 11pm and finally reached VIT Vellore at 2:45 am ( September 24, 2012). We were exhausted after the 13 hour journey, so we feel asleep after reaching our respective hostel blocks. We probably missed some classes in the morning, but some were cancelled too! :)

We were back to the routine of Continuous Assessment Tests, quizzes, assignments, reviews and seminars, but rejuvenated after the trip to the Nilgiris! I have visited Himalayan hill resorts like Dhanolti (Uttarakhand), Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir), Gangtok (Sikkim) and Darjeeling (West Bengal) with my family. But visiting a quaint town like Kotagiri with my friends in VIT is an experience in itself! It's an unforgettable trip, etched in the sands of time. After all a thing (or a place) of beauty is a joy for ever. :)